Method of treating labels and applying the same to cans.



F. H. KNAPP.

METHOD OF TREATING LABELS AND APPLYING THE SAME T0 CANS.

- APPLICATION FILED NOV- 4, 1910- ll 1 35 9 1: $11; Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

witmqoaao THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO-, WASHINGTON. D C- F. H. KNAPP.

METHOD OF TREATING LABELS AND APPLYING THE SAME T0 CANS.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

W APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, I910- 1 9 1R. 9 m

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

0 THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. C.

Qw N A c 0 T E M A S E H T G N Y DIDI F A IL G N A E R T F 0 D 0 H T E M APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. I910.

r0 1 9 1 Qu 1 L p A d m n w 9w P 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., FHOTGLITHO WASHINGTON. D. C.

l @AE% A OllQE,

FREDERICK II. KNAPP, OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE FRED H. KNAPP COMPANY, OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

METHOD OF TREATING LABELS AND APPLYING THE SAME TO CANS.

Application filed. November 4, 1910.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. KNAPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Westminster, in the county of Carroll and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Labels and Applying the Same to Cans, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to an 1m proved method of treating labels for application to cans or the like, and also to a novel machine for this purpose.

It is common in the can labeling machine art to apply a coating of paste to the can body, which latter is moved into contact with the label whereby the latter is applied to the can, and it is also common to apply the label to the can by moving the latter over a previously pasted label, but in either case objections have arisen primarily because of the fact that the label has been applied and affixed to the can immediately, or shortly after the pasting operation, and before the label has had an opportunity to become properly tempered after the moistening effect of the paste. It is well known that the labels, after becoming moistened or wet by the pasting, stretch and expand to a considerable degree, and as ordinarily applied this stretching takes place subsequently to the application of the label snugly and tightly about the can. The labels when thus applied to the can without previously being given a chance to swell, stretch or expand, after becoming dry on the can present an unseemly appearance due to wrinkling, and it often happens that the labels even become loose and at points separated from adhering contact with the cans.

The primary object of the present invention may be said to reside in a novel method of treating and applying the labels, and to a novel, economical and eflicient machine for carrying out the method, the machine being adapted in its operation to so temper the label, or to permit the same to become stretched and expanded after being moistened by the paste, and prior to its application to the can, with the obvious result that when applied the expansion of the label has occurred and the reactionary contraction will take place subsequently to its application to the can, so that the label Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915..

Serial No. 590,747.

when completely contracted about the can will be found to have a snug and smooth fit about the can and will be free from the customary wrinkles.

It is appreciated that the invention is susceptible of a large variety of embodiments and the accompanying drawings show one of the preferred embodiments which has proven satisfactory to a high degree, and will serve to illustrate the principles involved in the method and machine, though it is not to be presumed that the invention is to be limited to this particular embodiment.

In carrying out the method, it is proposed by the present invention to first apply to one surface of a label, or to a portion of said surface, a coating of paste, and instead of instantly or immediately applying the pasted surface to the can or package to first allow the pasted area to expand and stretch, and when of the proper temper apply and affix to the can. It is further proposed to apply the label to a pasted surface of a character which will prevent the label from curling upon itself, while permitting it to assume a shape somewhat similar to the shape of a can, whereby its subsequent application to the can may be quickly acoomplished.

More particularly the machine comprises a series of carriers, which, in the instance illustrated, take the form of mandrels connected one to the other, and which are adapted to contact with a body of paste to receive a coating therefrom and subse quently pick up a label, the latter being wound about the mandrels, and thereby receiving its proper curve and coating of paste therefrom, though it is obvious in this connection that the label may be first pasted through other instrumentalities, and subsequently taken up by the mandrels. When applied to the mandrels, the labels are carried to the point of application to the cans, which latter may be fed either by hand or automatic means, the former being illustrated in the drawing. During the travel of the carrier or mandrel from the point of pasting to the point of application of the labels mounted thereon to the cans, the past ing and can applying mechanisms being considerably removed one from the other, the label will have become first stretched, so that when applied to the can; the subsevcuient contraction will cause it to snugly and firmly fit about the can, and when driedthe same will be found to be devoid of wrinkles. H Thoughnot essentia-L'itis preferred, as

' above Suggested, to form the mandrel or carrier of a curvature somewhat corre- .spondlng to the curveof the cans whereby a slight preliminary curve is given to the labels, and the latter will consequently readily conform to the curve of the canin the :application of the latter. In this connection however, it is not desired to limit the application of the invention to curved cans, or in fact to any particular kind of cans, and it is to be borne in mind that wherein the term can is employed herein, 7 this term 1s understood to include boxes and packages regardless of shape or character. 7

' thatthe' labeling. of the cans may be continuous, as is the case where the labels are pasted and immediately applied to the cans, as in the usual practice. Hence it follows that no delay is occasioned by the preliminary tempering of the labels as provided for in my improved method.

Other improvements and the various novel details in the construction and arrangement of theparts of the machine will be pointed out in the following detailed description which for a clear understanding of the in- 'vention should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein, as

previously stated, is disclosed for the purpose of illustration a preferred embodiment of a machine for carrying out the method stated.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the forward end of the machine, Fig. 3' is a front end elevation enlarged of the same, Figsat, 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged detailed views of the label carrying mandrel.

-With more particular reference to the drawings, a suitable platform or flooring 1 is provided, which .constitutes a main support for'the various parts of the machine. Projecting upwardly from the support 1 adjacent what may be called the front end thereof is a pair of separated overhanging bracket arms 2, while somewhat similar bracketarms 3 are mounted adjacent the opposite end of the support. The bracket arms 3 constitute separated supports for a transversely extending shaft 4:, which latter is mounted in suitable bearings 3 at the upper end of the bracket members 3. Secured to the support for the shaft 4 in any desired manner is a vertically extending rod 5, secured at its upper end in any convenient manner to the transversely extending shaft 6. The bracket arms 2 also have secured thereto, and constitute separated supports for, a transversely extending shaft 7 conveniently mounted in bearings 2 at the upper end of said bracket arms 2. Projecting between the shafts 6 and 7 and secured to each in any desired manner is a vertically inclined connecting rod 8, an additional support 9 for said shaft 2 and rod 8 being suitably mounted on the support 1 as shown. Adjacent opposite ends of each of the shafts 4: and 6 aredrive wheels conveniently taking the form of sprocket wheels 9 and 10 respectively, while positioned upon the shaft 7 are relatively enlarged sprocket wheels 11, each of said sprocket wheels 9, 10 and 11 being freely rotatable on their respective shafts. Projecting between and mounted upon the said sprocket wheels are endless drive members shown as sprocket chains 12 and extending between the respective chains and secured thereto in any desired manner are supporting rods or shafts 13 upon each of which is-loosely sleeved for rotation, a carrying member or mandrel 14: which in the instance illustrated are round in cross section and hollow, and the diameter thereof preferably being larger than the diameter of the cans to which the label is to be applied. -Means are provided for normally posi tioning a predetermined portion of the pe riphery of the mandrels lowermost, the same being shown for illustration in the form of weights 14 secured to the inner surface of the mandrels and extending longitudinally thereof, and in order to prevent lateral vibration of the mandrels during the travel of the chains, a suitable latch 15 is provided, the same preferably comprisin an elongated spring arm secured to the shaft 13 or the connected link of the chain as shown and adapted at its free end to automatically engage. in a notch or recess 16 formed in the end of the mandrel 14 as the weight within the mandrel brings the latter into proper position. The recess 16 is relatively slight, so that the rotating action of the spring arm may be readily overcome, to permit of the free rotation of the mandrel in the operation of the apparatus to be more particularly referred to hereinafter.

-Also in the periphery of the mandrels is arranged a finger opening 17 conveniently midway of the ends of the mandrel and to one side of the weight 14 in the latter, the purpose of which opening being to permit of the insertion of the fingers of the operator so as to grasp the edge of the label mounted on the mandrel, it being noted in this connection, as abor e mentioned that the mandrel has a diameter in excess of that of the cans to be labeled, whereby, when applied to the mandrels in a manner to be described, one end of the label will overlie a portion only of the opening 17 in the mandrel, thereby leaving an exposed edge or end of the label which as before explained may be readily grasped by the fingers of the operator, or other mechanical means which may be employed to strip the label from the mandrel and apply the same to the cans.

Positioned upon the support 1 in any desired manner is a receptacle 18 adapted to contain paste or other suitable adhesive, and mounted within the receptacle is a carrier or paste applying member, conveniently a roller 19, and preferably having a yieldable tread as of felt 20. The periphery of the roller projects above the open top of the receptacle 18 and into the path of the mandrels. To one side of the paste receptacle 18 and conveniently resting on the support 1 is a receptacle 21 adapted to contain a series of superimposed labels 22, the said receptacle being preferably provided with a follower of any of the approved types commonly em ployed in the can labeling machine art for automatically feeding the labels in the receptacle whereby to position the uppermost one adjacent the open top of the receptacle, and it is not deemed necessary to show such a follower in the present case. The sides and forward end of the label receptacle may be cut away at 23, so as to expose an end of the uppermost label, whereby it may be readily taken up by a mandrel as it is moved past the same by the carrying chains 12 previously described. Also positioned upon the support 1, adjacent the rear end of the label receptacle is what may be termed a label ironing or presser member, the same preferably comprising a block or support 24 upon which is mounted a yieldable pad 25 of any desired material, suitably felt, the purpose of which being to engage the labels which have been applied to the carrier or mandrel, as the mandrels move past the ironing member 2 1, so as to smooth the label about the mandrel and to insure the contact of the label with the pasted area of the mandrel whereby the label will receive its supply of paste from the mandrel. Preferably a common operating means is employed for the paste applying member 19 and the mandrel carrying chains 12, the same comprising a drive shaft 26 suitably supported in any desired manner as by hanger brackets projecting downwardly from the flooring one, said shaft adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power, as by a belt 28 engaging a pulley 29 fixed to the shaft 26. Secured to the shaft 26 for movement therewith is a sprocket wheel 30 and also a gear pinion 31. A chain 32 mounted upon the sprocket wheel 30 is arranged to engage a sprocket wheel 33 secured to the shaft 34L of the paste applying member 19, the wheel 33 being arranged without the receptacle 18, as shown. A vertically extending rotatable shaft 35 having adjacent one end a worm 36 and adjacent its opposite end a bevel pinion 37 is mounted in suitable bearing sleeves 26 and 27'" the same sleeves being respectively on one of the bracket arms 3 and the support 1. The bevel gear 37 is adapted to mesh with the bevel gear 31 on the shaft 26, while the worm 36 is arranged to mesh with a worm gear 38 having a fixed connection with one of the sprocket wheels 9*, which latter has a fixed connection with its companion sprocket wheel 9 as by a connecting'sleeve 39 loosely mounted on the shaft 4. In this way, the sprocket wheels 9 are driven by the drive shaft 26 to impart rotary move ment to the chains 12 and the connected mandrels, and likewise the paste applying member 19 is driven from said shaft 26 by the chain 32, but it is noted in this connection that the movement of the chains and their connected mandrels is much slower than that of the paste applying member, this for the reason that it is desired to give the labels which are applied to the pasted mandrels ample time to receive the paste therefrom and become stretched and expanded during the travel of the chains 12 to the discharge end of the chains travel. The relatively slow movement of the mandrel carrying chains is also of importance when the rotary paste feed 19 is employed, whereby as the mandrels contact with the paste feed the rapid rotation of the latter will apply a coating of paste entirely around the mandrels, as the carrying chains slowly move past said pasting member.

From reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the upper surface of the presser pad member, the label receptacle, and the periphery of the paste applying roller 19 are in substantially the same horizontal plane, and also that the bottoms of the spocket wheels 4 and 11 are in substantially the same horizontal plane whereby to space the chain carriers 12 a sufficient distance above the paste applying member 19, label receptacle 21 and presser pad 24, to permit the mandrels in the travel of the chains to contact with said parts.

The operation of the parts thus far described may be set forth as follows: It being assumed that paste has been placed within the receptacle 18, and that a supply of labels have been positioned face downward in the receptacle 21, traveling movement of the chains 12 about the sprocket wheels is effected through the sprocket wheels 9 which as previously described have gear connection with the drive shaft 26. Likewise rotary movement is imparted to the paste applying member 19 by the drive shaft 26 through the chain 32. The

I weights 14: within the mandrels bring a predetermined portion of the periphery of the latter lowermost, while the opening 17 L in 'the mandrel'will be slightly to the right pp y side of -the mandrel as the latter move into *contactwiththe paste applying member 19.

As soon as the mandrel engages the paste member, the relatively light spring arm or .latch l5ris automatically released from the: recess 16 at the endof the mandrel, the mandrel will be rotated about the periphery of the paste roller 19 by the latter, and receive a coating'ot paste. Upon being released from' the paste applying member 19- by the continuing movement of the chains 12, the mandrel will be movedby the weight therein into proper position to engage the exposed end of the uppermost label in the rece'ptacleQl, Which label will be taken up by the mandrel during the traveling movement of the latter over the upper edge of the receptacle which latter ing been released by the engagement of the mandrel with the presser member 24. The label at this point Will be seen to fit snugly about the periphery of the mandrel with one end adjacent the weighted portion of the periphery of the mandrel while the opposite end will overlie a portion of the finger opening 17 in the mandrel, the mandrel being of a size larger than the cans to which the labels are to be applied, whereby the label Will not go completely around the periphery of the mandrel but will leave an exposed edge which overlies the opening 17 in the mandrel to permitof the label to be stripped from the mandrel for application to the can. Upon leaving the presser or ironing "member the mandrel due to its weight will be moved into position to be engaged by the spring latch 15 whereby during the travel of the mandrel with the chain lateral vibration is prevented. The travel of the chain is at such a speed and 01": such a duration as to permit the labels applied to the ma'ndrels' on said chains to become practically set or tempered by the time the mandrel reaches its discharge position, which as shown is at the front end of the machine and conveniently made up of the parts about to be described.

Secured to the overhanging bracket arms 2 are angle bracket members 40 the upright vertical portions'thereof have slotted ways 40* adapted for the reception of a transversely extending rod &1 extending between the respective bracket members 40 which said rod 41 has mounted thereon for rotary movement a presser roll 42 which is normally positioned adjacent the upper end of the slotted ways 40 by reason of the pressure exerted by the spiral springs 43. An actuating member, conveniently taking a U-shaped form and constituting a treadle i4. is provided and adapted to be actuated by the foot of the operator, the vertically extending arms 148 of the treadle being secured to the opposite ends of the rod 41, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The bracket members 40 r are conveniently enlarged at 4:0 and constitute bearings for opposite ends of a pair of laterally spaced rollers as, the shaft 45 for one of said rollers being conveniently extended at one end beyond the adjacent bracket arm l0 and having secured thereto an operating handle 46 whereby the connected roller is positively driven. The separated rollers 45 together constitute a pocket or support for a can to be labeled, which may be placed in said pocket and between. the brackets -10 by the hand of the operator or otherwise.

The operation of this feature of the invention may be described as follows: One of the man'drels l t with a label applied thereto having in the travel of the chains 12 reached a position adjacent the point of application of the labels to the can, the operator grasps the exposed edge of the label on the mandrel which overlies the opening 17 in the mandrel, and strips said label from the mandrel and applies said edge to the can which has been'placed in a pocket formed by the rollers The can is thereupon given a rotary movement by rotating the handle 46 which rotates one of the rollers 45, and said can inv its rotary movement will continue to draw the label from the mandrel and wind the same about its periphery. It will be ob served that that end of the label last leaving the mandrel will constitute the lap end of the label on the can and since said lap end has a pasted surface from end to end it will overlie the other'end of the label as is obvious. At'this time the operator places his foot upon the treadle actuating member 44, and by exerting downward pressure thereon, will move the presser member 42 against the action of the springs 43 downwardly until said presser member firmly engages the labeled can, and when in this position the rotation of the labeled can is continued by the, operator through the medium of the handle a6, and the label will thereby become firmly aflixed to the can. It has been seen that prior to this application to the can the label has become properly tempered.

The

label upon the can Will be practically devoid of further stretching and by subsequent contraction When dry it Will be firmly and smoothly afiixed to the can and in a manner devoid of the customary Wrinkles.

While various instrumentalities may be employed in aflixing the tempered labels to the cans, that shown is an exceedingly simple and economical construction and permits of a quite rapid labeling'of the cans since the operator may pick up the can and position it with his right hand and while so p0- sitioning the can strip the edge of the label from the mandrel and engage the same With the positioned can With his left hand and so soon as the label is so engaged the operator with the right hand Will impart the neces sary rotation to the can through the medium of the actuating handle 46, and at the proper time the treadle 44 will be depressed by the foot so as to bring the presser roll into position While the rotation of the can is continued through the means of the handle 46 and connected roller 45.

The mechanism and various parts of the invention herein described and illustrated, and not claimed, form a part of my co-pending application, and attention is respectfully directed, in this particular, to application Serial Number 7 30297, filed November 8, 1912, entitled Machine for treating labels and applying the same to cans.

What I claim is:

1. The method of treating labels prior to their application to cans or the like, consisting in applying a coating of paste to the surface of the label causing the pasted label to adhere to a conforming body of substantially the size of a can to be labeled, allowing the label to remain on the body until the same has become properly tempered and conformed, and finally removing the label and applying the same to a can or the like.

2. The method of treating labels which consists in applying paste to the periphery of a cylindrical conforming member, moving said conforming member over a supply of labels, whereby the upper label is sep arated from the supply and Wound upon the periphery of the conforming member, subjecting said conforming member With the applied label to movement, While maintaining the label in contact therewith a sufficient interval of time to become fully stretched, and subsequently removing the label from the conforming member and applying the same to a can.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

FREDERICK H. KNAPP.

Witnesses:

I). HOWARD, ANNA 0. (Lisa.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

